Members gn2882 Posted June 24, 2009 Members Share Posted June 24, 2009 guys in my group think I'm a live sound god (and I am still SUCH a beginner) Why? A. They can hear themselves, and the rest of the member's parts B. We have a good mix from the initial sound check (it does take longer than they're used to, but the results are worth it) without needing to be constantly messing with things during a performance. C. We now have NO FEEDBACK issues - even rehearsing in a small room with 8' ceilings. D. Everyone just gels as a unit, and gets the confidence from knowing the audience is hearing a clean, well balanced sound. What Did I Learn Here? (obvious to you guys, not to us hackers) A. Keep the mics - especially vox mics, well, well behind your boxes - not just more or less even with them B. Get your vocalists on the mic - not a foot away C. For God's sake turn down the guitar amps and put A LITTLE through the monitors D. Use direct boxes and know what the difference in a line input vs. a mic input is E. A little compression goes a long way G. A little reverb/delay/chorus goes a long way F. Spend more money on good cables and less on unnecessary outboard signal processing junk G. Turn the monitors up and use good boxes (Yamaha Club series at a minimum) H. Label EVERYTHING that connects. I. Turn offending/unwanted frequencies down instead of boosting everything else up. (this was a big one for me in learning how to use the EQ) J. Use BLACK 10 or 12 gauge extension cords (yes, we had all orange & yellow ones before) K. Learn proper amp to speaker box matchups (still working on this one) Any other things learned here you've actually put into use in your band? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankiefeedback Posted June 24, 2009 Members Share Posted June 24, 2009 sounds like you have a good handle on live sound, great job. I've learned EVERYTHING that I know about live gear on THIS forum. I was blessed with a good ear, thank god, and that's the only thing that you can't get here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lifeloverwg Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 Another good thing to learn early on is to by the best mics and speakers you can afford and then some. They are the two most important components. Everything else to a certain degree just passes signal and if it does that and its connected to good mics and good speakers it can sound very good. Fancy boards and processing can be nice, but not if they're connecting bad mics and crappy speakers. Oh, and more practice doesn't hurt. Winston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slipslick Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 Yeah, "Thanks to these threads" +1. I also have learned and am continuing to learn virtual mountains of useful information. I truly is a wonderful thing to get advice from the pros. Thank you ALL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jerry007 Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 +1 And nice summary, BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mogwix Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 there's really no right way to live sound... but there's a lot of wrong ways. 90% of live sound is knowing what NOT to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 yay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gn2882 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 Another good thing to learn early on is to by the best mics and speakers you can afford and then some. They are the two most important components. Everything else to a certain degree just passes signal and if it does that and its connected to good mics and good speakers it can sound very good. Fancy boards and processing can be nice, but not if they're connecting bad mics and crappy speakers.Oh, and more practice doesn't hurt. Winston Thankfully, the group likes to practice and let me practice on them - trying out different things.. Been also my very limited experience to get the guys who can move - guitarists, vocalist when he's not singing, etc to step out in front of the FOH boxes during and let them hear what the FOH mix sounds like - it's SO different from the stage mix - and then they're more likely to be open to suggestions i.e. tilting guitar cabs back, turning down, GETTING THE DRUMMER TO EASE UP ON THE SNARE (I continue to have issues here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MXDAD Posted June 25, 2009 Members Share Posted June 25, 2009 Yes! Thanks to all of you regular experienced contributors! There must be so many like myself who can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members banddad Posted June 26, 2009 Members Share Posted June 26, 2009 I, too, have learned a lot on this forum! Great advise from many members, and some immensely practical, realistic, answers, including from some who have already replied. I consider myself a novice, yet I seem to get consistently good sound from my son's band with my gear: regular audience members often like my sound better than the 'pro' guys get from them. We've even pulled off a few multi-band benefits quite well. One of my secrets? Not such a secret, it was let out above: Keep It Simple! I have good mics (Shure sm58's - Beta 87's for vocals, Audix D-series for instruments and drums). I have a mixer highly recommended here (yes: i got it after reading): A&H Mixwix. Amps are QSC, matched to speakers or slightly underpowered. Monitors are Yamaha Club 12". Mains and subs are Yorkville Elites (people ask what are those? ...and then say...they sound great! I found them recommended here first!). 31 band Equalizers for monitors, 15 bands for mains. And thats about it. What? No Sonic maximer? nope No Compressor? let the band control their own dynamics No outboard effects? no...a touch from the board , and just for vocals.Let the musicians control their music! Good clean sound, and no feedback, due in no small part to good stage volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted June 26, 2009 CMS Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 I'm glad to see you're happy with the advice you've received, and appreciate you letting the guys know their work has helped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boomerweps Posted June 26, 2009 Members Share Posted June 26, 2009 I'd say your initial writeup is superb guidance to those jumping into the PA world. Boomerweps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.